Bowling alley



May 8,1945.

R. E. KENNEDY BOWLING ALLEY Filed March 22, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 1 f/fg.

INVENToR. jobef Zi/Q13@ I, WMM HHH. .JMIQ WW M UWM Mw .w M@ JV 4 MIWH UH JMaf HIIHIIU w@ UWM UH 0% M@ Ww WUHHUH EL .Wm MMMHU. .M uv IWWM M MHHM May 8', 1945- R. KENNEDY .BOWLING ALLEY Filed March 22, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 d JUN [TED a STAT Patented May `8, 1945- a BOWLING Anniv` a Robert E. Kennedy, hicago, Ill., assignor toThe` Brunswick- Balke-Collender Company, Chicago,

`Ill., a corporation ofDelaware i Application March'ZZ, 1943, Serial No. 479,996 I .6 Claims.

has as a general object to provide anew and imi proved bowlingalley and one of :enhanced `appearance.

`A` more particular object of the invention is l `to provide abowlingfalley havingv new and improved guide markings" or sights` thereon "for aiding a bowler inl the `proper and accurate delivery of the bowling ball;`

A further object of the invention is` toprovide 10 a bowlingalleyhaving `guide means or sights@` at the bowlers starting position on the approach of the alley and guide means or sights `at" the foul line or delivery positionfor aiding a bowler'l in the determination of his position at those l5 points, and additional guide means or sights locatedbeyond` the foul `line forming slighting marks'or spots indicating laterally' and lungi-I tudinally spaced `points over or nearwhich a ballis to pass in executing a particular shot; 20

Other `objects and advantageswill become apfparent fromthe following detailed description, taken in connection*` with the accompanying drawings, in'which;

bodying the featuresof `this invention.

Fig;` 2 is a planview `on` a greatly enlarged scale of portions ofy the alley of Figgl, better to illustrate the invention. i

Fig.` 1 is a plan view of 4a bowling alley emi` 2 5 i Figi?, is an` enlargedlfragmentary plan `View 39 ofa portion of thealleyshowing an alley sight insertedtherein. a i y i i l .i i Fig. 3a is an enlarged` fragmentary vertical section along the line 30P-3a` of Fig". 3.`

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary` verticalr section along thelined--Il `of Fig. 2. i,

' Figs.` 5, Galand 7 are fragmentary perspective views of "bowlingL alleys illustrating dierent shots.

who@ the invention is `susceptible of numerous 40 modifications` and alternative constructions, it, is

`here shown and will hereinafter be describedin a preferred embodiment. It is not intended, however, `that thefinvention is to be limited `thereby to thefspeoic construction disclosed, but, on 4,5 thecontrary, itisintended to cover all modications and alternative constructions ,fallingwithin the` spirit and scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims;` 1 l Shown in the drawings'ifor purposesofvdisclo-l- 50 sureis a bowling alley, generally `designatedll.

The alley basically is of conventional construction beingcomposed oi a foundation i5, the construction of which formsno part of thisinvention, and abedHIZ providing the playing surface 515` a a ,i a (Cl.l 273-51) a i a i This invention relates to a bowling alley `and I3 of the alley. The bed I2 is inconventional l y manner built up `of a plurality of boards I4 tightly secured together on edge and in a face toface relationship. As herein shown, the bed I2 :is

composed ofthirty-seven such boards which have f intertting `tongues and grooves `to aid in re-` taining them rigidly in position. At its pitend,

herein the upper end as viewed in Figs. 1 and2,

the bedhas embedded thereinthe conventional pin spots for locating the pins numberedl to TIB," while `extending transversely of j the alley, and embedded `inthe bed an appropriate distance away from the number I` pin spot is aystrip I6 forming. the foul line. The portion c'II of the alley below the foul line, as viewed in Figs. `1 and v2,\herein,` is generally referred to asthe approach `The portion I3 of the alley imme-l be appreciatedthat when installed the alley will be flanked on either side by the guttersas shown in Figs. 5 to '7.`

In executing a shot, a bowlerl takes a starting `position somewhere near theend of theapproach II lfor example, atthelow'er end of Fig. 5, where `the pair offootprintsis indicated) and then advances or walks toward the foul line while swinging'the ball, delivering the ballonto .l the alley inasmuch as the dis-` just beyond the foul line. tance from the foul line to the number` I pin-is sixty feet, `it requires `a great deal of` accuracy in the .correct initial placing of the ball on the alley and in `accurately directing the `ball to-` ward` thepins,l to obtain a largescore. Such .correct and accurate delivery ofthe bowling ball;

tion at the time of delivery of thelball,`andlde` livery of the ball in the proper direction.

Somebowlers directthe `ball toward the de` sired pins by continuously keeping` their eyes on the pins, the straight ball bowlers of this type delivering the ball inY a directionstraight toward the desired pins,.land the curved or hook ball bowlers making the necessary allowance for the curvedpa'thwhich their ball takes.

Itis the primary purpose of this` invention to provide a bowling alley having guide means or` sights on the fore part of the alleyfor aiding a a bowler, whether novice or expert, in directing the balls toward the pins, and having additionalA sights at`the starting `position on theV approach andvat the foul line for aidingwthe `bowler in properly approaching the alley and indelivering the ball from the proper point. The sights are such that by the use thereof the novice may be and accurately assume those same positions, as

well as to deliver the ball repeatedly in the desired direction. Since the guide means or sights are on the fore part of the alley, it enables the I bowler, after first lining up the proper sights, to

keep his eye on the point relatively close to the foul line rather than on the distant pins.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in the drawings there is provided a first guide means indicative of'and aiding in the de termination of the starting position of a bowler. This guide means, which may be referred to as thestarting position sight, is composed of a plu rality of spot-like marks 20, 2|, 22, 23 and 24, located in aline extending transversely olf the alley near the beginning of the approach position thereof, as viewed in Fig. l. Five'such spot-like markseor areas are here shown, with the middle one, 22, somewhat larger than the others and located on the longitudinal center line of the bowlingy alley. The marks 20, ZI, 23 and 24 are spaced equal distances to either side of the central mark 22, and herein this spacing is such that there is a mark on each iifth board I4 outwardly from the central mark 22. The marks should preferably be readily visible and are usually of a color differing from the coloring of the boards I4. While these marks may be applied in a variety of ways, and while they may take a plurality of configurations, they arer preferably circular and in the form of cylindrical inserts or `dowels, and may be of ber or wood, or any other suitable material. As bestseen in Fig. Ll, each is inserted in a recess drilled part way into one of the vboards I4.

Spaced approximately one stride closer to the foul line I6 is an alternative starting position guide means comprising sights 2|', 22', 23 and 24'. This is herein shown as of identical construction with the guide means 20, and is optionally available for bowlers who prefer a shorter approach.

Adjacent the foul line, and on the approach side thereof, is a delivery guide means 'comprising a plurality of spot-like marks or sights I9, 20", 2|", 22, 23", 24 and 25, located in a line extending transversely of the alley. It has been found that an approach walk parallel with the longitudinal center line of the alley produces best results, and hence the delivery sights 20, 2l", 22". 23 and 24" are arranged in the same boards I4 as the correspondingly numbered starting sights to aid avbowler in making such a parallel, straight line approach from the starting to the delivery position. To that end, the central delivery sight 22" is located on the longitudinal center line ofthe alley and is again slightly enlarged over the remainder of the delivery sights to indicate that itis the middle mark. Seven delivery sights are shown (including the outer sightsIS and 25, which are five boards outside of the sights 20" and 24, respectively), and,

. while they may be given any configuration or of spot-like marks or areas.

are made, or at least preferably should be made with the ball traveling at an angle to and not parallel with the longitudinal center line or the bowling alley. Therefore, to aid the bowler in giving proper initial direction to the ball, there has been provided herein a direction guide means comprising direction o1' alley sights, I9a, 20a., 2in, 22a, 23a, 24a, and 25a, located on the alley beyond the lfoul line, and yproviding laterally and longitudinally located points visible to the bowler when in his starting position. The alley sights enable the bowler to direct the ball by starting it from a pre-selected delivery sight and by di recting the4 ball to roll over or adjacent to an appropriate and pre-selected alley sight. The alley sights are intended to locate denite points or` areas on the alley bed, and hence they consist Herein the sights are seven in number, are wedge-shaped, and are arranged in the form of an inverted V, as viewed byl the bowler, with the apex or central wedge in the central board I4 and the remaining wedges in each 'lifth board therefrom. Whilethe alley sights might be applied in a variety of ways, they preferably are produced bythe employment of actual inserts 28, as lbest seen in Figs. -3 and 3a.4

Herein the inserts are of a dark wood, such as 'black walnut (to contrast with the lighter maple of the alley bed), and each is preferably secured to a board I 4 by dowels 29 extending laterally therethrough.. Although the shape and location of the spots as shown in the drawings are preferable, it is to be .understood thatneither theshape of, the spots, nor their arrangement, nor their manner vof formation are of theessence of the invention, and that the spots may have any conliguration and may be Vgiven `any arrangement other than that herein shown so long as the arrangement is such that the spots may be employed in aiding the: bowler inV imparting Vthe `correct initial direction to the ball. y l

`The invention in the form herein disclosed may fbe'used in the following manner: If, for example, the bowlerwishes .to deliver a strike ball, he rst assumes his position at the starting sight 20 (or 20') as showniby the foot marks 30 in Fig. 5. The bowler will then advance, preferably by taking four strides forwardly tothe. delivery position, as indicated by the foot marks in Fig. 5, this advan'ce being parallelwith the alley so thatthe delivery will be made with the left foot just slightly to the left of the deliveryvsight 20. 'I'he ball B (which has been swung during-this approach walking) is delivered onto the alley from two to eighteen inches beyond the `foul line and directed to pass intermediate the direction or alley sights 20a and 2Ia,. along the dotsdash line indicated in Fig. 5, so as to crash the strike pocket :between the I and 3 pins..

If thebowler wishes to deliver a ball topick up the number 'I pin, asillustrated in Fig. 6, he rstsights between the 2D delivery sight and the number 'I pin so las, to determine the location of thepath of the -ballrelativelyv to the nearest alley sight. He finds that lhis ball should pass slightly to the left of alley sightZ Ia. Thus, after Starting at the starting position .sight 2l) and walking toward the deliveryesight 20", the bowler delivers the ball alongthe dot-dash line, as shown in Fig. 6.

v If, by way of further example, the bowler wishes to deliver a ball to pick up the number I0 pin (see Fig. 7) the bowler takes a starting position,`

with his left foot behind the starting position sight 24, and again advances in a straight line ball bowler.

parallel with the alley,` terminating his approach with his left foot opposite the delivery sight 24".

. At this time, the `ball is delivered in a direction to pass just to the leftof the center alley sight 22a quickly line up the shot. This is done by imagin-; ing a straight line from the` delivery point Where.

the ball will belaid downon the alley to the point at which the ball is to strike the pins, and note taken of the position of that imaginary line l relative to the nearest alley sight. Having then selected or determined the sight over or` near which the ball is to be delivered, the bowler then` takes the position straight back from theposition` that he would assume for delivery of the ball at the point on the alley previously assumed.

The exemplary shots described have been de-` scribed as made by the straight ball bowler. The

curve or hook ball bowler will use all of the guide means in the same manner, but will, of course,

due to the curved path taken by his ball, select a somewhat differentsighting mark for each par-l ticular shot from that employed by the straight The guide means are, however, just as helpful to the curve ball bowler as the straight approach and at the `um@ of deiiveryef trieben, and aplurality of wedge-shapedinserts ofcontrasting appearance with respect to the remainder of the alley located at a substantial` distance ,n beyond the foul line to form sightstolaid the bowler `in thedelivery of a ball in a correctdirecliontoward the pins on the alley, said inserts being arranged in the form of an inverted V as` viewed `by the bowler withthe apexwedge on the longitudinal `center line of the alley.

3. In a bowling alley, a playing surfaceproviding top layer comprising a plurality of wood,

bed-stock boards disposed on edge and rigidly and tightly secured face to face, a strip embedded t in the top surface of said layer transversely thereof to form a foul line, said strip `being spaced l a suitable distance from one end of the alleyto separate the approach from the bed, a nrst plurality of cylindrical inserts disposed in a line ex,- tending transversely of the alley at the starting n position end of the approach,ione of said inserts being located in the middle one of the boards forming said top layer and the remainder of said. inserts being spaced like` distances on either side of the middle insert to serve as guide means aiding a bowler in determining his position laterally of the alley at the starting position of `the apy preach, a second plurality of cylindrical inserts disposed in a line extending transversely of the` ball bowler, and just as helpful to the expert and professional as to the novice.

The form of the invention disclosed herein has proven extremely effective with the various sights spaced laterally `as hereinbefore set forth, and with the alley sights located in an area extend# ing from l2 feet 5 inches to `15 feet 11 inches from the foul line. The alley sights were six inches long and six inches apart (in a direction longitudinally of the alley).

I claim as my invention:

l. A bowling alley comprising a continuous nat surface having an approach at one end, a foul line marking the end of the approach, and the beginning of the playing surface; a location for pins at the opposite end of the playing surface,` and means for guiding a bowler in the delivery of theball comprising spot-like markings on the approach near the starting position end of the` approach and also adjacent the foul line, spaced laterally of the `alley `to aid a bowler in determining his correct position laterally of the alley at the start of the approach and at the time of rdelivery of the ball, and aplurality of spot-like markings of contrasting appearance with respect to the remainder of the alley located beyond the foul line `and part way down the playing surface towardthe pin locations to form sights to aid the bowler in the delivery of a ball in a correct directiontoward the pins on the far end of the alley. C

2. A bowling alley comprising a continuous flat surface having an approach at` one end, a foul linemarking the endz offthe approach and the beglnning of the playing surface, a location for pins at the far end of theplaying surface and directly opposite the approach, and` means for guiding a bowler in the delivery 'of .the ballcompris-ing markings on the approach near the starting position end` of the approach and also adjacent the foul line, spacedlaterally of the alley to aid a bowler in determining his correct l position laterally of the alley atthe start of the maining` marks of that group spaced uniform alley immediately adjacent the foul line, one of said last named inserts likewise being locatedin the central board and the remainder of said inserts being spaced equaldistances on either side of the central board with the spacing equal to the spacing of said first plurality of inserts, and a plurality of inserts in the boards to the other side of the foul line forming spot-like alley sights for aiding the bowler in delivering the ball in a desired direction. I n

4. A bowling alley having an approach, a bed;

a foul line marking the end of theapproach adjoining the bed, and means for guiding a bowler `in the delivery of the ball comprisingr an odd number of spot-like markslocated in a line extending transversely of the approach at the starting position end of the alley,` the middle oneof .said marks beingdistinguishable from the re' `mainder and being located on the longitudinal centerline of the alley with equal numbers of the remaining marks spaced uniform distances to either side of the middle mark, a second group of an odd number of spot-like marks located in aline extending transversely of the alley adjacent the foul line, the central one of said second group of` marks being distinguishable from the ren mainder and located on the longitudinal center line of the alley with equal numbers of the redistances to either side of the central mark, the

n spacing of the two groups of marks being the same, and a plurality ofspot-like sighting marks on the alley bed beyond the foul line but within sight of the bowlerwhenv at the starting position marks.

5. A bowling alley having, in combination," an approach, a bed, a foul line marking the endlof` the approach adjacent the bed, and means for guiding a bowler in the delivery of the ball comprising a rst plurality of laterally spaced sights on the approach for aiding the bowler inl determining his` starting position, a second plurality of laterally spaced sights adjacent the foul line for aiding the bowler in determining his delivery position,` corresponding ones of said delivery sights havingthe same lateral spacing as said approach, a bed extending continuously in one direction, a foul line marking the end of the approach at the bed, means for guiding a fbowler in the delivery of a ball comprising markings formed on the approach of the alley for aiding a bowler in ldetermining his position transversely of the alley at the starting position .on the ap proach and in making an approach from that position to the foul line and parallel with the side of the alley, and a. plurality of spot-like sight-` ing marks on the alley located at a substantial distance beyond the foul line. A I

ROBERT E. KENNEDY. 

